Data processing method, equalizer and receiver

ABSTRACT

A data processing method, an equalizer, and a receiver in a wireless communication system including a relay station are provided. The data processing method includes: receiving a base station signal from a base station; receiving a relay station signal from a relay station; determining a propagation delay between the base station signal and the relay station signal; generating an equalizing signal in which interference generated between the base station signal and the relay station signal is alleviated in consideration of the propagation delay; and recovering information bits transmitted by the base station from the equalizing signal. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to alleviate performance deterioration due to an interference problem generated in a relay system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0032837 filed on Apr. 8, 2011, all of which are incorporated byreference in their entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless communication, and moreparticularly, to an equalizing method and apparatus in a wirelesscommunication system including a relay station.

2. Related Art

A relay technology is a technology of enabling a service to be providedto a service disabled mobile station positioned in a shadow region orimproving a data transmission rate. In addition, the relay technologyhas been prominent as a dominant technology in both of IEEE 802.16m andLTE-Advanced that correspond to candidate technologies of IMT-advanced,which is the next generation mobile communication standard. However, therelay technology should overcome performance deterioration caused by adifference in a propagation time intrinsically existing between aplurality of communication channels.

An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system in which arelay station is not present prevents inter-symbol interference (ISI)using a cyclic prefix longer than a length of a channel impulseresponse. When the length of the channel impulse response is longer thana length of the CP, the ISI may be removed using a time domain equalizer(TEQ). However, a method of removing the ISI using the TEQ has a problemthat noise is significantly amplified during a process of reducing alength of a channel. In order to solve this problem, a multi tapfrequency domain equalizer (FEQ) is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a data processing method, an equalizer,and a receiver.

The present invention also provides data processing method and areceiver capable of solving an interference problem generated due to adifference in a propagation time of a relay system.

The present invention provides a data processing method, an equalizer,and a receiver in which an equalizing signal is generated by multiplyinga base station signal and a relay station signal by a weight vector.

The present invention provides an equalizing method and apparatus in awireless communication system including a relay station.

In an aspect, a data processing method in a wireless communicationsystem including a relay station is provided. The data processing methodincludes: receiving a base station signal from a base station; receivinga relay station signal from a relay station; determining a propagationdelay between the base station signal and the relay station signal;generating an equalizing signal in which interference generated betweenthe base station signal and the relay station signal is alleviated inconsideration of the propagation delay; and recovering information bitstransmitted by the base station from the equalizing signal.

The equalizing signal may be generated by multiplying the base stationsignal and the relay station signal by a weight vector.

The weight vector may be determined so as to maximize a signal tointerference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

The SINR or the weight vector may be a SINR or a weight vector by apredetermined mathematical model.

In another aspect, a receiver in a wireless communication systemincluding a relay station is provided. The receiver includes: areceiving circuit receiving a base station signal from a base stationand receiving a relay station signal from a relay station; an equalizerdetermining a propagation delay between the base station signal and therelay station signal and generating an equalizing signal in whichinterference generated between the base station signal and the relaystation signal is alleviated in consideration of the propagation delay;and a decoder recovering information bits transmitted by the basestation from the equalizing signal.

In still another aspect, an equalizer is provided. The equalizerincludes: a determining unit determining a propagation delay between abase station signal received from a base station and a relay stationsignal received from a relay station and an equalizing unit generatingan equalizing signal in which interference generated between the basestation signal and the relay station signal is alleviated inconsideration of the propagation delay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a multi-hop relay system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of areceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of anequalizer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a difference in a propagation time generatedbetween a base station signal and a relay station signal in a downlinkof the multi-hop relay system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) periodapplied to an equalizer having three taps.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart schematically showing a data processing methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a simulation result showing a channel impulse response betweena base station and a mobile station and a channel impulse responsebetween a relay station and a mobile station, used in simulation.

FIG. 8 is a simulation result showing frame error rate (FER) performanceof an equalizer according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a wireless communication system. A wireless communicationsystem 10 includes at least one base station (BS) 11. Respective BSs 11provide communication services to specific geographical regions(generally referred to as cells) 15 a, 15 b, and 15 c. The cell can bedivided into a plurality of regions (referred to as sectors).

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a multi-hop relay system. The multi-hoprelay system 100 indicates a mobile communication system in whichcommunication between a base station (BS) 110 and a mobile station (MS)120 is performed via several stages of relay stations 130.

Referring to FIG. 1, the MS 120 receives a base station signal h_(B) 101of the BS 110 and a relay station signal h_(R) 102 of the RS 130. In thecase in which the MS 120 is serviced by any one of the BS 110 and the RS130, a signal of the other thereof acts as interference to a servicesignal.

The base station signal h_(B) 101 and the relay station signal h_(R) 102have a difference in a propagation time therebetween. This difference ina propagation time causes inter-symbol interference (ISI). Whenorthogonal components of OFDM are dispersed by the ISI, it is difficultto recover a signal in a receiver 200. In order to prevent thisperformance deterioration, the receiver according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes an equalizer 220. Theequalizer 220 may be a multi tap frequency domain equalizer by way ofexample.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of areceiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 2, the receiver 200 includes a receiving circuit 210,the equalizer 220, and a decoder 230.

The receiving circuit 210 receives the base station signal 101 from theBS 110 and receives the relay station signal 102 of the RS 130.

The equalizer 220 determines a propagation delay between the basestation signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 and generates anequalizing signal 203 in which interference is alleviated inconsideration of the propagation delay. In addition, the decoder 230recovers information bits transmitted by the BS 110 from the equalizingsignal 203.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of anequalizer of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the equalizer 220 includes adetermining unit 221 and an equalizing unit 222. The determining unit221 determines the propagation delay between the base station signal 101received from the BS 110 and the relay station signal 102 received fromthe RS 130, and the equalizing unit 222 generates the equalizing signal203 in which the interference generated between the base station signal101 and the relay station signal 102 is alleviated in consideration ofthe propagation delay.

In the multi-hop relay system 100 in which the difference in apropagation time may be mathematically implemented. In addition, theequalizer 220 may be designed through a mathematically implementedmodel.

The mathematical model of the multi-hop relay system 100 is as follows.

In the present invention, ( )* indicates a conjugation for a scalar or avector, ( )^(T) indicates a transpose, and ( )^(H) indicates a Hermitiantranspose. All of the vectors are column vectors. Generally, aBold-faced capital latter indicates a matrix, and a Bold-faced smalllatter indicates a vector. However, in order to distinguish a timedomain and a frequency domain from each other, some of Bold-facedcapital letters are used to represent a vector in an understandablerange of those skilled in the art.

It is assumed that frequency resources of the multi-hop relay system 100are orthogonal to each other without being overlapped with each other.That is, when it is assumed that each of subcarrier index sets used bythe BS 110 and the RS 130 is S_(B) and S_(R), S_(B)∩S_(R)=Ø.

A difference between times at which the base station signal 101 and therelay station signal 102 arrive at the mobile station is represented bythe following Equation.

Δt=t _(R) −t _(B)   <Equation 1>

Where each of t_(B) and t_(R) indicates arrival times of the basestation signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 after removal of CP.Δt indicates a difference between times at which the base station signal101 and the relay station signal 102 arrive at the mobile station.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a difference in a propagation time generatedbetween a base station signal and a relay station signal in a downlinkof the multi-hop relay system. t_(B) and t_(R) have been defined above,and t_(frame) indicates a start time of a FFT period. In addition, νindicates a length of the CP.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 shows a difference in a propagation time anda FFT period in the case in which Δt≧0 (410), in the case in which−ν≦Δt<0 (420), and in the case in which Δt<−ν (430).

t_(frame) is determined so that an influence of the interference becomesminimum, such that the FFT period is determined. t_(frame) isrepresented by the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{t_{frame} = \{ \begin{matrix}{t_{B},{{{if}\mspace{14mu} 0} \leqq {\Delta \; t}}} \\{t_{R},{{{if}\mspace{14mu} - v} \leqq {\Delta \; t} < 0}} \\{{t_{B} - v},{{{if}\mspace{14mu} \Delta \; t} < {- v}}}\end{matrix} } & {\text{<}{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

The present invention focuses on an influence of interference by adifference (Δt) in a propagation time. It is assumed that a length of achannel between the BS 110 and the MS 120 and a length of a channelbetween the RS 130 and the MS 120 are the same as each other as an Lsample and is shorter than the length (ν) of the CP.

A vector x_(B,1)=[x_(B,1,0)x_(B,1,1) . . . x_(B,1N−1)]^(T) and a vectorx_(R,1)=[x_(R,1,0)x_(R,1,1) . . . x_(R,1,N−1)]^(T) indicate time domainsignals transmitted in a first OFDM symbol period. x_(B,1), and x_(R,1),are represented by the following Equation.

x_(B,1)=F^(H)X_(B,1)

x_(R,1)=F^(H)X_(R,1)   <Equation 3>

Where a matrix F indicates a N×N FFT matrix of which a (k,n)-th elementvalue is 1/√{square root over (N)} exp(−j2πkn/N), k=0,1,2, . . . , N−1,n=0,1,2, . . . , N−1 each of X_(B,1)=[X_(B,1,0)X_(B,1,1) . . .X_(B,1,N−1)]^(T) and X_(R,1)=[X_(R,1,0)X_(R,1,1) . . . X_(R,1,N−1)]^(T)indicates frequency domain symbol vectors of signals transmitted by theBS 110 and the RS 130, X_(B,1,k)=0 with respect to a subcarrier indexk∈S_(R), and X_(R,1,k)=0 with respect to a subcarrier index k∈S_(B).

A mathematical model for a reception signal in the case in which Δt≧0(410) will be first considered.

A FFT period is determined so that t_(frame)=t_(B). A time domainreception signal y=[y₀ y₁ . . . y_(N−1)]^(T) is the sum of a signalcomponent y_(B)=[y_(B,0) y_(B,1) . . . y_(B,N−1)]^(T) from the BS 110and a signal component y_(R)=[y_(R,0) y_(R,1) . . . y_(R,N−1)]^(T) fromthe RS 130. y, y_(B), and y_(R) are represented by the followingEquation.

y=y _(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) +y _(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) +z

y_(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) =H_(B)x_(B,1)

y _(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) =H _(R) P _(Δt) x _(R,l) −H_(R,ISIP,L−1−v+Δt) P _(Δt) x _(R,l) +H _(R,ISIP,L−1−v+Δt) x _(R,l−1)  <Equation 4>

Where a noise vector z=[z₀ z₁ . . . z_(N−1)]^(T) and z_(i)˜CN(0,σ_(z)²). CN means complex Gaussian noise, and σ_(z) ² means a variance ofnoise. In addition, H_(B), H_(R), P_(n) and H_(R,ISIP,δ) are representedby the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{{H_{B} = \begin{bmatrix}h_{B,0} & 0 & \ldots & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} & h_{B,{L - 2}} & \ldots & h_{B,1} \\h_{B,1} & h_{B,0} & 0 & \ldots & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} & \ldots & h_{B,2} \\\vdots & \vdots & \; & \ddots & \; & \vdots & \; & \vdots \\h_{B,{L - 1}} & \cdots & h_{B,1} & h_{B,0} & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & \; & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \; & \ddots & \vdots \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} & h_{B,{L - 2}} & \cdots & h_{B,0}\end{bmatrix}}{H_{R} = \mspace{45mu} \begin{bmatrix}h_{R,0} & 0 & \ldots & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} & h_{R,{L - 2}} & \ldots & h_{R,1} \\h_{R,1} & h_{R,0} & 0 & \ldots & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} & \ldots & h_{R,2} \\\vdots & \vdots & \; & \ddots & \; & \vdots & \; & \vdots \\h_{R,{L - 1}} & \cdots & h_{R,1} & h_{R,0} & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & \; & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \; & \ddots & \vdots \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} & h_{R,{L - 2}} & \cdots & h_{R,0}\end{bmatrix}}{P_{n} = \begin{bmatrix}0_{n \times {({N - n})}} & I_{n} \\I_{N - n} & 0_{{({N - n})} \times n}\end{bmatrix}}{H_{R,{ISIP},\delta} = \begin{bmatrix}0 & \cdots & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} & h_{R,{L - 2}} & \cdots & h_{R,{L - \delta}} \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} & \cdots & h_{R,{L - \delta + 1}} \\\vdots & \; & \vdots & \vdots & 0 & \ddots & \vdots \\\; & \; & \; & \; & \vdots & 0 & h_{R,{L - 1}} \\\; & \; & \; & \; & \; & \vdots & \vdots \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0\end{bmatrix}}} & {\text{<}{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 5\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

H_(B) and H_(R) indicate a circulant matrix configured of impulseresponses, and each of h_(B,n), n=0,1, . . . , L−1 and h_(R,n), n=0,1, .. . , L−1 indicates channel impulse responses of a channel between theBS 110 and the MS 120 and a channel between the RS 130 and the MS 120.P_(n) is a matrix indicating an n sample environment right shift, andH_(R,ISIP,δ) is a matrix indicating interference components generated bya difference in a propagation time. The reception signal is derived onthe assumption that a channel is fixed during an OFDM symbol period.

From Equation 4, a frequency domain signal corresponding to a k∈S_(B)-thsubcarrier may be obtained. The frequency domain signal corresponding tothe k∈S_(B)-th subcarrier is represented by the following Equation.

Y _(k,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) =f _(k) ^(H) y=H _(B,k) X _(B,1,k) −f _(k)^(H) H _(R,ISIP,L−1−v+Δt) P _(Δt) F ^(H) X _(R,l) +f _(k) ^(H) H_(R,ISIP,L−1−v+Δt) F ^(H) X _(R,l−1) +Z _(k)   <Equation 6>

Where a vector f_(k),k=0,1, . . . , N−1 indicates a k-th column vectorof an inverse FFT matrix F^(H). Since f_(k)^(H)H_(B)F^(H)X_(B,1)−H_(B,1,k)X_(B,1,k) and k∉S_(R) in the aboveEquation, X_(R,1,k)=0. Therefore, a fact that f_(k)^(H)H_(R)P_(Δt)F^(H)X_(R,1)=0 is used. Z_(k)=f_(k) ^(H)z, and H_(B,k)indicates a gain of a k-th subcarrier.

A mathematical model for a reception signal in the case in which −ν≦Δt<0(420) is as follows.

y=y _(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(R) +y _(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(R) +z

y _(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(R) =H _(B) P _(−Δt) x _(B,l) −H_(B,ISIP,L−1−v−Δt) P _(−Δt) x _(B,l) +H _(B,ISIP,L−1−v−Δt) x _(B,l−1)

y_(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(R) =H_(R)x_(R,l)   <Equation 7>

Where H_(B,ISIP,δ) is a matrix indicating interference componentsgenerated by a difference in a propagation time. H_(B,ISIPδ) isrepresented by the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{H_{B,{ISIP},\delta} = \begin{bmatrix}0 & \cdots & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} & h_{B,{L - 2}} & \cdots & h_{B,{L - \delta}} \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} & \cdots & h_{B,{L - \delta + 1}} \\\vdots & \; & \vdots & \vdots & 0 & \ddots & \vdots \\\; & \; & \; & \; & \vdots & 0 & h_{B,{L - 1}} \\\; & \; & \; & \; & \; & \vdots & \vdots \\0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0\end{bmatrix}} & {\text{<}{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 8\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

From Equation 7, a frequency domain signal corresponding to a k∈S_(B)-thsubcarrier may be obtained. The frequency domain signal corresponding tothe k∈S_(B)-th subcarrier is represented by the following Equation.

Y _(k,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(R) =f _(k) ^(H) y=e ^(j2πkΔt/N) H _(B,k) X_(B,1,k)

−f _(k) ^(H) H _(B,ISIP,L−1−v−Δt) P _(−Δt) F ^(H) X _(B,l) +f _(k) ^(H)H _(B,ISIP,L−1−v−Δt) F ^(H) X _(B,l−1) +Z _(k)   <Equation 9>

Where a fact that f_(k)^(H)H_(B)P_(−Δt)F^(H)X_(B,l)=e^(j2πkΔt/N)H_(k)X_(B,l,k) and f_(k)^(H)H_(R)F^(H)X_(R,l)=0 is used. Equation 9 shows that an interferencesignal is not generated from the RS 130 in the case in which the FFTperiod of Equation 2 is used and shows that a previous OFDM symbolsignal of the BS 110 acts as interference.

A mathematical model for a reception signal in the case in which Δt<−ν(430) is as follows.

y=y _(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) _(−v) +y _(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) _(−v)+z

y _(B,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) _(−v) =H _(B) P _(v) x _(B,l) −H_(B,ISIP,L−1) P _(v) x _(B,l) +H _(B,ISIP,L−1) x _(B,l−1)

y _(R,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) _(−v) =H _(R) P _(N+Δt+v) x _(R,l) −H_(R,ISIN,−Δt−v) P _(N+Δt+v) x _(R,l) +H _(R,ISIN,−Δt−v) P _(2v+Δt) x_(R,l+1)   <Equation 10>

Where H_(B,ISIP,δ) is represented by the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{H_{R,{ISIN},\delta} = \begin{bmatrix}0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 & \cdots & 0 \\\vdots & \vdots & \; & \vdots & \vdots & \; & \vdots \\h_{R,0} & 0 & \; & \; & \; & \; & \; \\\vdots & \; & \ddots & \vdots & \; & \; & \; \\h_{R,{\delta - 2}} & \cdots & h_{R,0} & 0 & \vdots & \; & \vdots \\h_{R,{\delta - 1}} & h_{R,{\delta - 2}} & \cdots & h_{R,0} & 0 & \cdots & 0\end{bmatrix}} & {\text{<}{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 11\text{>}}\end{matrix}$

From Equation 10, a frequency domain signal corresponding to ak∈S_(B)-th subcarrier may be obtained. The frequency domain signalcorresponding to the k∈S_(B)-th subcarrier is represented by thefollowing Equation.

Y _(k,t) _(frame) _(=t) _(B) _(−v) =f _(k) ^(H) y=e ^(−j2πkv/N) H _(B,k)X _(B,l,k) −f _(k) ^(H) H _(B,ISIP,L−1) P _(v) F ^(H) X _(B,l) +f _(k)^(H) H _(B,ISIP,L−1) F ^(H) X _(B,l−1) −f _(k) ^(H) H _(R,ISIN,−Δt−v) P_(N+Δt+v) F ^(H) X _(R,l) +f _(k) ^(H) H _(R,ISIN,−Δt−v) P _(2v+Δt) F^(H) X _(R,l+1) +Z _(k)   <Equation 12>

Where a fact that f_(k)^(H)H_(B)P_(v)F^(H)X_(B,l)=e^(j2πkv/N)H_(b,k)X_(B,l,k) and f_(k)^(H)H_(R)P_(N+Δt−v)F^(H)X_(R,l)=0 is used. It may be appreciated fromEquation 12 that both of the base station signal 101 and the relaystation signal 102 act as interference to a signal received in thek∈S_(B)-th subcarrier.

Based on the mathematical models in the cases in which Δt≧0 (410),−ν≦Δt<0 (420), and Δt<−ν (430), the equalizer 220 generating theequalizing signal 203 in which the interference generated between thebase station signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 ismathematically modeled.

Since processes in which the equalizer 220 is mathematically implementedin the cases in which Δt≧0 (410), −ν≦Δt<0 (420), and Δt<−ν (430) aresimilar to each other, a mathematical modeling process in the case inwhich Δt≧0 (410) may also be in the cases in which −ν≦Δt<0 (420) andΔt<−ν (430).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) periodapplied to an equalizer having three taps. t_(B), t_(R), Δt, andt_(frame) of FIG. 5 are the same as t_(B), t_(R), Δt, and t_(frame)defined in FIG. 4.

A D tap frequency domain equalizer performs FFT with respect to each ofD FFT periods. Referring FIG. 5, the D FFE periods are based ont_(frame), and a start point of d=0,1,2, . . . , L, . . . , D−1-th FFTperiod is t_(frame)-d. When a frequency domain reception signal in thecase in which a start point of a FFE period is t_(frame)-d is Y_(k)^(d), d=0,1,2, . . . , L, . . . , D−1, Y_(k) ^(d) is represented by thefollowing Equation.

Y _(k) ^(d) =e ^(−j2πkd/N) H _(B,k) X _(B,l,k) −f _(k) ^(H) H_(B,ISIP,d+L−1−v) P _(d+Δt) F ^(H) X _(B,l) +f _(k) ^(H) H_(B,ISIP,d+L−1−v) F ^(H) X _(B,l−1) −f _(k) ^(H) H _(R,ISIP,d+L−1−v+Δt)P _(d+Δt) F ^(H) X _(R,l) +f _(k) ^(H) H _(R,ISIP,d+L−1−v+Δt) F ^(H) X_(R,l−1) +Z _(k) ^(d)   <Equation 13>

Therefore, a frequency domain reception signal Y_(k)=[Y_(k) ^(D−1) . . .Y_(k) ¹ Y_(k) ⁰]^(T) is represented by the following Equation.

Y _(k) =H _(B,k) X _(B,l,k) −H _(intf,B,l) X _(B,l) +H _(intf,B,l−1) X_(B,l−1) −H _(intf,R,l) X _(R,l) +H _(intf,R,l−1) X _(R,l−1) +Z _(k)  <Equation 14>

Where Z_(k)=[Z_(k) ^(D−1) . . . Z_(k) ¹Z_(k) ⁰]^(T), and H_(B,k) is avector configured of channel gains between the BS 110 and the MS 120 inthe k-th subcarrier. H_(intf,B,l) indicates an interference matrixbetween the BS 110 and the MS 120 in an l-th OFDM symbol, andH_(intf,R,l) indicates an interference matrix between the RS 130 and theMS 120 in the l-th OFDM symbol. Each of the matrices is represented bythe following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{\mspace{79mu} {{H_{B,k} = {\begin{bmatrix}^{{- j}\; 2\pi \; {{k{({D - 1})}}/N}} \\\vdots \\^{{- {j2\pi}}\; {k/N}} \\1\end{bmatrix}H_{B,k}}}\mspace{20mu} {H_{{intf},B,l} = {{F_{k,D}^{H}\begin{bmatrix}{H_{B,{ISIP},{D - 1 + L - 1 - v}}P_{D - 1 + {\Delta \; t}}} \\\vdots \\{H_{B,{ISIP},{1 + L - 1 - v}}P_{1 + {\Delta \; t}}} \\{H_{B,{ISIP},{L - 1 - v}}P_{\Delta \; t}}\end{bmatrix}}F^{H}}}\mspace{20mu} {H_{{intf},B,{l - 1}} = {{F_{k,D}^{H}\begin{bmatrix}H_{B,{ISIP},{D - 1 + L - 1 - v}} \\\vdots \\H_{B,{ISIP},{1 + L - 1 - v}} \\H_{B,{ISIP},{L - 1 - v}}\end{bmatrix}}F^{H}}}{H_{{intf},R,l} = {{F_{k,D}^{H}\begin{bmatrix}{H_{R,{ISIP},{D - 1 + L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}}P_{D - 1 + {\Delta \; t}}} \\\vdots \\{H_{R,{ISIP},{1 + L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}}P_{1 + {\Delta \; t}}} \\{H_{R,{ISIP},{L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}}P_{\Delta \; t}}\end{bmatrix}}F^{H}}}\mspace{20mu} {H_{{intf},R,{l - 1}} = {{F_{k,D}^{H}\begin{bmatrix}H_{R,{ISIP},{D - 1 + L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}} \\\vdots \\H_{R,{ISIP},{1 + L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}} \\H_{R,{ISIP},{L - 1 - v + {\Delta \; t}}}\end{bmatrix}}F^{H}}}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 15} >}\end{matrix}$

Where F _(k,D)=[f_(k) f_(k) . . . f_(k)].

Equation 14 shows that in the case of signals received through eachsubcarrier, all terms except for a right first term of FIG. 14 act asinterference.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theequalizer 220 generating the equalizing signal 203 by multiplying aweight vector is mathematically modeled. When it is assumed that thegenerated equalizing signal 203 is {tilde over (X)}_(B,l,k), theequalizing signal 203 is represented by the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\sim}{X}}_{B,l,k} = {\lbrack {w_{0}^{*}w_{2}^{*}\mspace{14mu} \cdots \mspace{14mu} w_{T}^{*}} \rbrack Y_{k}}} \\{= {{w_{k}^{H}H_{B,k}X_{B,l,k}} - {w_{k}^{H}H_{{intf},B,l}X_{B,l}} +}} \\{{{w_{k}^{H}H_{{intf},B,{l - 1}}X_{B,{l - 1}}} - {w_{k}^{H}H_{{intf},R,l}X_{R,l}} +}} \\{{{w_{k}^{H}H_{{intf},R,{l - 1}}X_{R,{l - 1}}} + {w_{k}^{H}Z_{k}}}}\end{matrix} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 16} >}\end{matrix}$

Where w_(k) indicates a weight vector.

In this case, a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR_(k)) ofthe equalizing signal 203 generated in Equation 16 is represented by thefollowing Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{{SINR}_{k} = \frac{w_{k}^{H}A_{k}w_{k}}{w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 17} >}\end{matrix}$

Where A_(k) and B_(k) are represented by the following Equation.

$\begin{matrix}{\mspace{79mu} {{{A_{k} = {H_{B,k}H_{B,k}^{H}}}B_{k}} = {{\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},B,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},B,l}} )}^{H}} + {\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},R,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},R,l}} )}^{H}} + {\frac{\sigma_{z}^{2}}{E_{x}}I_{D}}}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 18} >}\end{matrix}$

Where E_(x)=E{|X_(k)|²} and is energy of a transmission signal. Inaddition, σ_(z) ² indicates a variance of noise, and I_(D) indicates aD×D identity matrix.

Equation 17 was derived from a fact that there is no correlation betweensignals of the RS 130 and signals of the BS 110 transmitted in each OFDMsymbol period and relationships ofH_(intf,B,l−1)(H_(intf,B,l−1))^(H)=H_(intf,B,l)(H_(intf,B,l))^(H) andH_(intf,R,l−1)(H_(intf,R,l−1))^(H)=H_(intf,R,l)(H_(intf,R,l))^(H).

When a weight vector w_(k) ^(opt) maximizing the SINR_(k) is applied tothe equalizer 220, the influence of the interference due to the relaystation signal 102 may be minimized. Therefore, the weight vectorcorresponds to a solution to the following optimization problem.

$\begin{matrix}{w_{k}^{opt} = {{\arg \mspace{11mu} {\min\limits_{w_{k}}{w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}\mspace{14mu} {with}\mspace{14mu} w_{k}^{H}H_{B,k}}}} = 1}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 19} >}\end{matrix}$

An equality constrained area optimization problem of FIG. 19 may beagain changed into the following equality unconstrained optimizationproblem.

$\begin{matrix}{w_{k}^{opt} = {\arg \mspace{11mu} {\min\limits_{w_{k},\lambda}{C_{k}( {w_{k},\lambda} )}}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 20} >}\end{matrix}$

Where λ indicates Lagrange multiplier, and an objective functionincluding λ is as follows.

$\begin{matrix}{{C_{k}( {w_{k},\lambda} )} = {{\frac{1}{2}w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}} + {\lambda ( {1 - {w_{k}^{H}H_{B,k}}} )}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 21} >}\end{matrix}$

When it is assumed that values obtained by differentiating Equation 21with respect to W_(k)* and λ are 0_(D) and 0, the following Equations 22and 23 are obtained.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{\partial{C_{k}( {w_{k},\lambda} )}}{\partial w_{k}^{*}} = {{{B_{k}w_{k}} - {\lambda \; H_{B,k}}} = 0_{D}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 22} >} \\{\frac{\partial{C_{k}( {w_{k},\lambda} )}}{\partial\lambda} = {{1 - {w_{k}^{H}H_{B,k}}} = 0}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 23} >}\end{matrix}$

When Equations 21 and 22 are solved in combination with each other, avalue of a weight vector w_(k) is obtained.

$\begin{matrix}{w_{k}^{opt} = \frac{B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}{H_{B,k}^{H}B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}} & {< {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 24} >}\end{matrix}$

When the weight vector w_(k) by Equation 24 is applied to the equalizer220, the SINR_(k) of the equalizing signal 203 generated by multiplyingthe base station signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 by theweight vector may be minimized. Therefore, the performance deteriorationof the multi-hop relay system 100 due to the relay station signal 102may be alleviated.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart schematically showing a data processing methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the data processing method according to theexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a basestation signal 101 from a BS 110 (S610), receiving a relay stationsignal 102 from a RS 130 (S620), determining a propagation delay betweenthe base station signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 (S630),generating an equalizing signal (S640), and recovering information bits(S650).

In the generation of the equalizing signal (S640), the equalizing signal203 in which interference generated between the base signal station 101and the relay station signal 102 is alleviated in consideration of thepropagation delay. The equalizing signal 203 may be generated bymultiplying the base station signal and the relay station signal by aweight vector, which may be determined so as to maximize a SIRN. TheSIRN may be a SIRN of Equation 17, and the weight vector may be a weightvector of Equation 24.

In the recovering of the information bits (S650), the information bitstransmitted by the BS 110 are recovered from the equalizing signal 203.

An effect of the present invention may be confirmed through simulation.

In simulation, it is assumed that a FFT size N=512 and a CP size ν=64.In addition, 16-QAM symbol mapping is used. The BS 110 uses an oddnumber-th subcarrier and the RS 130 uses an even number-th subcarrier sothat interference by a difference in a propagation time is increased.That is, S_(B)={0,2,4, . . . , 510}, and S_(R)={1,3,5, . . . , 511}. OneOFDM symbol becomes one frame, and comparison of performance isconducted in view of a frame transmission error rate. In addition, achannel encoder is not used.

FIG. 7 is a simulation result showing a channel impulse response betweena BS and a MS and a channel impulse response between a RS and a MS, usedin simulation. Referring to FIG. 7, both of channel impulse responses oftwo channels are shorter than 64.

FIG. 8 is a simulation result showing frame error rate (FER) performanceof an equalizer according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Δt indicates a difference between times at which the basestation signal 101 and the relay station signal 102 arrive at the mobilestation, and D indicates the number of taps of the equalizer 220 whenthe equalizer 220 is a multi-tap frequency domain equalizer. Inaddition, performance in the case in which Δt is 0 indicates a limit ofperformance.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the case in which a single tap equalizer isused, a error floor is generated with both of the case in which Δt=−45(810) and Δt=45 (820). However, the error floor is higher in the case inwhich Δt=45 (820) than in the case in which Δt=−45 (810). The reason isthat in the case in which −ν≦Δt<0 (420), interference is determined byan impulse response between the BS 110 and the MS 120, and in the casein which Δt≧0 (410), interference is determined by an impulse responsebetween the RS 130 and the MS 120.

FER performance of a tap frequency domain equalizer having D of 5 or 8is a result derived by applying the weight vector of Equation 24. TheFER is decreased in both of the cases in which Δt=−45 (810) and Δt=45(820). Therefore, performance of the equalizer is improved by themulti-tap frequency domain equalizer. In addition, as the number of tapsincreases, the performance is improved.

Therefore, according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the performance deterioration due to the interference problemgenerated in the multi-hop relay system 100 may be alleviated.

As set forth above, according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, it is possible to alleviate performance deterioration due toan interference problem generated in a relay system.

1. A data processing method comprising: receiving a base station signalfrom a base station; receiving a relay station signal from a relaystation; determining a propagation delay between the base station signaland the relay station signal; generating an equalizing signal in whichinterference generated between the base station signal and the relaystation signal is alleviated in consideration of the propagation delay;and recovering information bits transmitted by the base station from theequalizing signal.
 2. The data processing method of claim 1, wherein theequalizing signal is generated by multiplying the base station signaland the relay station signal by a weight vector.
 3. The data processingmethod of claim 2, further comprising determining the weight vector. 4.The data processing method of claim 3, wherein the weight vector isdetermined so as to maximize a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio(SINR).
 5. The data processing method of claim 4, wherein the SINR isrepresented by Equation:$\mspace{20mu} {{{SINR}_{k} = \frac{w_{k}^{H}A_{k}w_{k}}{w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}}},\mspace{20mu} {{{where}\mspace{14mu} A_{k}} = {H_{B,k}H_{B,k}^{H}}},{B_{k} = {{\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},B,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},B,l}} )}^{H}} + {\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},R,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},R,l}} )}^{H}} + {\frac{\sigma_{z}^{2}}{E_{x}}I_{D}}}},}$the w_(k) is the weight vector, the H_(B,k) is a vector configured ofchannel gains between the base station and a mobile station in a k-thsubcarrier, the H_(intf,B,l) is an interference matrix between the basestation and the mobile station of an l-th orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) symbol, the H_(intf,R,l) is an interference matrixbetween the relay station and the mobile station of the l-th OFDMsymbol, the E_(x)=E{|X_(k)|²} and is energy of a transmission signal,the σ_(z) ² is a variant of noise, and the I_(D) is a D×D identitymatrix.
 6. The data processing method of claim 2, wherein the weightvector is represented by Equation:$w_{k}^{opt} = {\frac{B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}{H_{B,k}^{H}B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}.}$7. A receiver comprising: a receiving circuit receiving a base stationsignal from a base station and receiving a relay station signal from arelay station; an equalizer determining a propagation delay between thebase station signal and the relay station signal and generating anequalizing signal in which interference generated between the basestation signal and the relay station signal is alleviated inconsideration of the propagation delay; and a decoder recoveringinformation bits transmitted by the base station from the equalizingsignal.
 8. The receiver of claim 7, wherein the equalizer generates theequalizing signal by multiplying the base station signal and the relaystation signal by a weight vector.
 9. The receiver of claim 8, whereinthe equalizer determines the weight vector so as to maximize a SINR. 10.The receiver of claim 9, wherein the SINR is represented by Equation:$\mspace{20mu} {{{SINR}_{k} = \frac{w_{k}^{H}A_{k}w_{k}}{w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}}},\mspace{20mu} {{{where}\mspace{14mu} A_{k}} = {H_{B,k}H_{B,k}^{H}}},{and}}$$B_{k} = {{\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},B,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},B,l}} )}^{H}} + {\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},R,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},R,l}} )}^{H}} + {\frac{\sigma_{z}^{2}}{E_{x}}I_{D}}}$11. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the weight vector is represented byEquation:$w_{k}^{opt} = {\frac{B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}{H_{B,k}^{H}B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}.}$12. An equalizer comprising: a determining unit determining apropagation delay between a base station signal received from a basestation and a relay station signal received from a relay station and anequalizing unit generating an equalizing signal in which interferencegenerated between the base station signal and the relay station signalis alleviated in consideration of the propagation delay.
 13. Theequalizer of claim 12, wherein the equalizing unit generates theequalizing signal by multiplying the base station signal and the relaystation signal by a weight vector.
 14. The equalizer of claim 13,wherein the equalizing unit determines the weight vector so as tomaximize a SINR.
 15. The equalizer of claim 14, wherein the SINR isrepresented by Equation:$\mspace{20mu} {{{SINR}_{k} = \frac{w_{k}^{H}A_{k}w_{k}}{w_{k}^{H}B_{k}w_{k}}},\mspace{20mu} {{{where}\mspace{14mu} A_{k}} = {H_{B,k}H_{B,k}^{H}}},{and}}$$B_{k} = {{\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},B,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},B,l}} )}^{H}} + {\sqrt{2}{H_{{intf},R,l}( {\sqrt{2}H_{{intf},R,l}} )}^{H}} + {\frac{\sigma_{z}^{2}}{E_{x}}{I_{D}.}}}$16. The equalizer of claim 13, wherein the weight vector is representedby Equation:$w_{k}^{opt} = {\frac{B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}{H_{B,k}^{H}B_{k}^{- 1}H_{B,k}}.}$